--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: She felt the familiar old constriction in…" description: "\"“She felt the familiar old constriction in her chest - that combination of desire and urgency. She needed more hours - many more hours - if she was eve..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d62/elizabeth-gilbert-131_hours-lost_she-felt-the-familiar-old-constriction-i_3008180.jpg" --- # She felt the familiar old constriction in her chest - that… ![“She felt the familiar old constriction in her chest - that combination of desire and urgency. She needed more hours - many more hours - if she was ever to study these questions as they deserved to be studied. She would never have enough hours. She had already lost so much time this week. Every…” quote by Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d62/elizabeth-gilbert-131_hours-lost_she-felt-the-familiar-old-constriction-i_3008180.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d62/elizabeth-gilbert-131_hours-lost_she-felt-the-familiar-old-constriction-i_3008180.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d62/elizabeth-gilbert-131_hours-lost_she-felt-the-familiar-old-constriction-i_3008180.jpg) > ““She felt the familiar old constriction in her chest - that combination of desire and urgency. She needed more hours - many more hours - if she was ever to study these questions as they deserved to be studied. She would never have enough hours. She had already lost so much time this week. Every soul in the world seemed to believe that Alma's hours belonged to him. How was she ever meant to devote herself to proper scientific exploration?”” [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A scientist feels time pressure, yearning for more hours to pursue deep inquiry, confronting societal expectations. **In simple terms:** She lacks time for true study. Key Takeaway Prioritize meaningful work. Themes time management science gender expectations Mood reflective urgent Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - academic research - personal projects - career planning - work‑life balance Key Concepts research urgency self‑discipline Questions to Reflect On - What tasks truly deserve your limited time? - How can you negotiate expectations? A Different Perspective Time cannot be bought; external constraints persist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alma Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alma-hours-4809642/) [Believe Alma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-alma-4809640/) [Hours Belonged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours-belonged-4809641/) [Hours Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours-lost-2414543/) [Needed Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed-hours-4809643/) ## Related quotes > [I used to be someone that needed nine hours of sleep; otherwise, I didn't think I was going to sound good when I sang,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idina-menzel/i-used-to-be-someone-that-needed-nine-hours-of-sleep-otherwise-i-didn/) [Idina Menzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idina-menzel/) > [A man that is young in years may be old in hours if he have lost no time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/a-man-that-is-young-in-years-may-be-old-in-hours-if-he-have-lost-no/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [If I walk into the editing room, it's six hours lost. I'm massaging frames. I'm, like, 'Oh, take six frames off that shot. Hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-plec/if-i-walk-into-the-editing-room-it-s-six-hours-lost-i-m-massaging/) [Julie Plec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-plec/) > [Time is one thing that can never be retrieved. One may lose and regain friends. One may lose and regain money. Opportunity, once spurned,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/time-is-one-thing-that-can-never-be-retrieved-one-may-lose-and-regain/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [¢ A man that is young in years may be old in hours, if he has lost no time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/a-man-that-is-young-in-years-may-be-old-in-hours-if-he-has-lost-no/) [Unkown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unkown/) > [A meeting is an event at which the minutes are kept and the hours are lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/a-meeting-is-an-event-at-which-the-minutes-are-kept-and-the-hours-are-2/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [“He let the hours go by lost in the magic of words, shedding his skin and his name, feeling like another person.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/he-let-the-hours-go-by-lost-in-the-magic-of-words-shedding-his-skin/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafón](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) ## More by Elizabeth Gilbert > [That's your friend. My husband is my best friend. He's not the mirror that holds up my flaws. He's just the guy who's like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/that-s-your-friend-my-husband-is-my-best-friend-he-s-not-the-mirror/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“Not to mention that I have finally arrived at that age where a woman starts to question whether the wisest way to get over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/not-to-mention-that-i-have-finally-arrived-at-that-age-where-a-woman/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“The Buddha taught that all human suffering is rooted in desire. Don't we all know this to be true? Any of us who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/the-buddha-taught-that-all-human-suffering-is-rooted-in-desire-don-t/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [ “And while \[we\] do have possibilities that are vast and magnificent and almost infinite in scope, it's important to remember that our choice-rich lives… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/and-while-we-do-have-possibilities-that-are-vast-and-magnificent-and/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [Learn your way around loneliness. Make a map of it. Sit with it, for once in your life. Welcome to the human experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/learn-your-way-around-loneliness-make-a-map-of-it-sit-with-it-for/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [If we never leave our house except to drive to work, do we need to be even remotely aware of this powerful, humbling, extraordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/if-we-never-leave-our-house-except-to-drive-to-work-do-we-need-to-be/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [I will tell you why we have these extraordinary minds and souls, Miss Whittaker," he continued, as though he had not heard her. "We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-will-tell-you-why-we-have-these-extraordinary-minds-and-souls-miss/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [Both the five-year-olds looked at me with bewilderment and a bit of fearful uncertainty. I had a sudden horrifying image of the woman I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/both-the-five-year-olds-looked-at-me-with-bewilderment-and-a-bit-of/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“Clearing out all your misery gets you out of the way. You cease being an obstacle, not only to yourself but to anyone else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/clearing-out-all-your-misery-gets-you-out-of-the-way-you-cease-being/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [The ingredients of both darkness and light are equally present in all of us,...The madness of this planet is largely a result of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/the-ingredients-of-both-darkness-and-light-are-equally-present-in-all/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [I was full of a hot, powerful sadness and would have loved to burst into the comfort of tears, but tried hard not to,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-was-full-of-a-hot-powerful-sadness-and-would-have-loved-to-burst/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“I live in nature where everything is connected, circular. The seasons are circular. The planet is circular, and so is the planet around the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-live-in-nature-where-everything-is-connected-circular-the-seasons/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“His spelling was several degrees beyond arbitrary, and his punctuation brought reason to sigh with unhappiness. But”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/his-spelling-was-several-degrees-beyond-arbitrary-and-his-punctuation/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [Before you realize this truth, say the Yogis, you will always be in despair, a notion nicely expressed in this exasperated line from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/before-you-realize-this-truth-say-the-yogis-you-will-always-be-in/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [I actually have a great deal of respect for antidepressants; I think they can be enormously mighty tools toward recovery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-actually-have-a-great-deal-of-respect-for-antidepressants-i-think/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) [Explore all 1,156 Elizabeth Gilbert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) ## More Hours Lost quotes > [A man that is young in years may be old in hours if he have lost no time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/a-man-that-is-young-in-years-may-be-old-in-hours-if-he-have-lost-no/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [If I walk into the editing room, it's six hours lost. I'm massaging frames. I'm, like, 'Oh, take six frames off that shot. Hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-plec/if-i-walk-into-the-editing-room-it-s-six-hours-lost-i-m-massaging/) [Julie Plec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-plec/) > [Time is one thing that can never be retrieved. One may lose and regain friends. One may lose and regain money. Opportunity, once spurned,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/time-is-one-thing-that-can-never-be-retrieved-one-may-lose-and-regain/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [¢ A man that is young in years may be old in hours, if he has lost no time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/a-man-that-is-young-in-years-may-be-old-in-hours-if-he-has-lost-no/) [Unkown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unkown/) > [A meeting is an event at which the minutes are kept and the hours are lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/a-meeting-is-an-event-at-which-the-minutes-are-kept-and-the-hours-are-2/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [“He let the hours go by lost in the magic of words, shedding his skin and his name, feeling like another person.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/he-let-the-hours-go-by-lost-in-the-magic-of-words-shedding-his-skin/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafón](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) [Browse all 7 Hours Lost quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours-lost-2414543/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“She felt the familiar old constriction in her chest - that combination of desire and urgency. She needed more hours - many more hours - if she was ever to study these questions as they deserved to be studied. She would never have enough hours. She had already lost so much time this week. Every soul in the world seemed to believe that Alma's hours belonged to him. How was she ever meant to devote herself to proper scientific exploration?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Elizabeth Gilbert" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/she-felt-the-familiar-old-constriction-in-her-chest-that-combination/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Hours Lost" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/she-felt-the-familiar-old-constriction-in-her-chest-that-combination/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d62/elizabeth-gilbert-131_hours-lost_she-felt-the-familiar-old-constriction-i_3008180.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d62/elizabeth-gilbert-131_hours-lost_she-felt-the-familiar-old-constriction-i_3008180.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d62/elizabeth-gilbert-131_hours-lost_she-felt-the-familiar-old-constriction-i_3008180.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“She felt the familiar old constriction in her chest - that combination of desire and urgency. She needed…” — Elizabeth Gilbert", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Elizabeth Gilbert", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“She felt the familiar old constriction...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/she-felt-the-familiar-old-constriction-in-her-chest-that-combination/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/she-felt-the-familiar-old-constriction-in-her-chest-that-combination/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```